LEXINGTON, Va. – As time was winding down in the final period of the first overtime, goalie Sarah Shaw netted a look from mid-pool into the upper left 90 to give Villanova a 19-18 victory over Iona to close out the first weekend of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action on Sunday morning.

Villanova (13-9, 2-1 MAAC) led the way by a goal after the opening period of the first overtime after a goal by Iona (9-8, 0-2 MAAC) ended up being reversed to send it into the second period of that overtime. Shaw made a big save early but Iona tied it on a Jordan Van Reeken goal. The Gaels had another chance on a powerplay that was once against saved by Shaw. After a timeout was called by Villanova, the ball came back to the hands of Shaw to resume play with two seconds on the clock, allowing them to take a chance well-away from the goal with a heave that connected.

"There is no quit in this team," head coach Larry Sanders said.

Of the seven Wildcats who scored in the contest, three dented the twine multiple times. Stella Byles led the crew with a season-high six goals. Kaysie Stuba added on five while Isabel Herbst netted four goals for a second straight game. In net, this is Shaw's second consecutive win of the season.

Iona took the lead in the opening minute but Stuba answered it at the 6:07 mark. A 2-0 Gael run was halted by Herbst and then Stuba brought the game back even at the 4:21 mark with a successful penalty shot with 4:21 remaining in the quarter. Byles pushed Villanova out front with a shot across the net to make it 4-3 but Iona got a goal back in the final minute to tie the game 4-4 through the first period.

Kaya Hart put Iona back ahead early in the second on a powerplay before the 'Cats capitalized on a player-up advantage of their own thanks to an Amanda Rice and Byles connection to even the score at 6-6. A behind-the-back goal from Emily McKenzie and a breakaway look from Byles for a hat trick gave Villanova an 8-7 advantage with 1:56 left in the half. The Gaels went on a two-goal run late in the frame, leaving the score at 9-8 at the break.

Herbst netted the first Villanova goal of the second to also give her a hat trick before Stuba joined in with her third goal of the day with 1:05 left in the third to make it a 13-2 contest. The Gaels added on a goal as time expired, pushing their lead to 14-12 heading into the fourth.

Byles got one back for the Wildcats on a powerplay less that 30 seconds in to the fourth quarter Villanova answered a Maeve Ellen Wydan goal with back-to-back powerplay net movers from Herbst and Byles, tying the game 15-15. The sides went back and forth on goal scoring until a powerplay goal from Stuba with one second left sent the game into overtime.

Stuba also scored the first goal in overtime on a five-meter attempt, setting the stage for the final period where van Reeken and Shaw pushed the scoring forward.

Stuba led the 'Cats in points with seven, adding a pair of assists to her five goals. Rice tallied six assists, matching her career-high and program-high for a single game that she also notched against Iona on April 18, 2021. Only she and Brigitte Bayster have had six assists in a game multiple times with Bayster doing so three times between 1999 and 2000. Rice also added a steal and three field blocks to her full statline. She is now four field blocks away from tying for the most in a single season in Villanova history.

Abigail Shelby started the game in net for the Wildcats, allowing nine goals in two periods of play with one save. Shaw allowed nine through four periods of action with a shutout coming in that first overtime session, also grabbing nine saves.

Van Reeken led the Gaels with seven goals in the loss, adding on four assists for 11 points. Mary Jane Bailey and Nikki Salerno split time in net, making 10 saves with a pair of steals.

 

Next weekend brings a slew of games in New York as Villanova hits the road to face LIU, St. Francis College Brooklyn, Marist and Siena.